Typewriting machine



JF. ALLA RD.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1918.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J FRANK ALLARD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, J FRANK ALLARD, a

citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn Borough, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful. Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to typewriting machines, and more particularly to escapement mechanism therefor, and is herein disclosed as applied to an Underwood typewriter.

It is desirable in machines used for writing foreign languages, the characters of which require variable letter-spacing of the typewriter carriage, or for writing languages having characters requiring a uniform letter-spacing in which it is desired to use specialcharacters of different widths, to provide mechanism at the operation of which the typewriter carriage will step a distance to accord with the width of the typed character.

I I have placedthe characters of abnor-. m'al width in the upper-case position upon the type-bars, and provide means whereby the carriage will be given a double step at a single key stroke at the actuation of certain keys when the platen is in uppercase position, but will be given a single step at the actuation of the same keys when the platen is in lower-case position.-

In addition to the usual universal. bar member universal to all of the keys to be operated thereby, there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, a second universal member universal to certain keys only, while unaffected by the remaining keys. The second universal member operates a shiftable dog-stop, the position of which determines whether there shall be single or double letter-feed movements of the carriage, and the operation of this dogstop is controlled by thecase-shift mechanism. An interponent between the second umversal member and the shiftable dog-stop is controlled as to its position by the caseshift frame, so that the second universal member will be ineffective to operate the dog-stop when the platen is in the lowercase position, thereby, permitting single letv ter-feed movements of the carriage. When the platen is shifted to upper-case position, the interponent will be shifted so that, on actuat1on of any of the keys which are connected wlth the second universal member, theshlftable dog-stop will be shifted to a posltion such as to permit double letterspacmg movements of the carriage.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide for adapting single and double spacing mechanism to existing typewriters with but little change therein. I show an Underwood typewriting machine with the usual carriage-escapement mechanism, and I provide a simple device for permitting the carriage to make a double step, which may be readily placed upon said machine, including a simple interponent which may be readily placed'upon the platen-shift frame, to enable a key-operated arm to operate the dog stop for'double spacing. This arm is capable of being operated by as many keys as desired; and for this purpose, I mount said stop operating arm upon a rock-shaft, and I also connect'to said rock-shaft one or more shaft-operating arms. each of which may be also'connected by a link to the de sired'key-leven'so that as many key-levers invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view, showing the platen in upper-case position, and a portion of the mechanism for causing, double letter-feed movements of the carriage.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the escapement wheel, escapement dogs and dog-stop in normal positions.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3,

showing the parts in a single letter-spacing operation.

Figure 5 is a view 'simllar to Figure 3,

showing the parts in a double letter-spacin operation.

% ype-keys 10, Figure 1, on key levers 11.,

when depressed, operate bell cranks 12 to swing upwardly and rearwardly type-bars 13, having lower and upper-casetypes'hi,

15, respectively, against a platen 16, Figure 2, mounted on a carriage 17, Figure 1, which is drawn in letter-feeding direction by the usual spring-drum 18, to which said carriage is connected by a draw band 19.

The carriage 17 is controlled in its letterfeeding movements by an escape-ment mechanism, operable at the actuation of the typekeys 10, and is held against the tension of said spring-drum 18 by an escapement wheel 22, Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, co-operating with escapement dogs. The carriage is shown as drawn towards the left, but it will be understood that the same may be arranged to feed towards the right, if desired, 1n writing certain foreign languages, and that corre sponding reversals may be made in parts of the feeding mechanism.

The carriage is connected with said escapement wheel 22 by a rack-bar 23, Figure 1, mounted on said carriage, and meshing with an escapement pinion 24 connected by pawls 25, with the escapement wheel 22.' The latter is normally held againstthe tension of spring-drum 18 by a loose feeding dog or stepping dog 26, Figures Land 3, engaging a tooth 27 vof said wheel, said dog being held by a fixed stop 28 fast on a dog-rocker 29.

When a type-bar 13 is swung to print a character at the depression of a key,'it actuates a universal bar member 30, Figure 1, common to all the keys, to swing the dogro cker 29, so that the loose dog 26 will be moved out of engagement with the tooth 27 of the escapement wheel, and a fixed holding dog 31 moved into engagement with the tooth 27 of the escapement wheel to temporarily hold said wheel and carriage against the tension of spring 18.

When the loose dog 26 is thus swung out of engagement with said wheel, it is idly thrown leftwardly by'a-spring 32, Figure 3, and is arrested by a dog-stop 33, Figure 4, so as to be in engaging relation with the next tooth 34 of the escapement wheel.

versal bar 30 is returned to its normal-poso that said fast dog 31 will be out of engagement with the'escapement wheel, which is now under the-influence of the springdrum 18, which will return the loose dog 26 to itsnormal position against the stop 28, thereby causing the typewriter carriageto move a singleletter-space. 7

It will be noted, in passing, that the universal, bar 30 is moved at the'actuation of any type-key.

To type upper-case characters 15, the machine is provided with a shift key 3.8, Figure 1, adapted to swing a shift frame 39, Figures 1 and 2, at the depression of said key, to raiseupwardly a shiftrail 40 along which the carriage travels, and raise therewith the platen 16 so as to move the printing line. along the platen opposite the upper-case types 15.

Itywill be noted that all the types 14 in lower-case position are of a width which requires single letter-feed movements of the 'fed two letter-spaces at a single key stroke whenever one of the special keys 43, Figure 1, one of which is associated with each typebar having a type 15 of extra width in upper-case position, is operated.

To accomplish this, the dog-stop 33 is shiftable at the depression of the special keys 43 in such a manner that the carriage will be fed two letter-spaces at the actuation of said keys in upper-case position, and one letter-space at the actuation of said keys in lower-case position.

For this purpose,each key lever 11 of said special keys is provided with a link 44, Figures 1 and 2, connected to an arm 45 on a rock shaft 46 universal to all of said special keys 43, the connections being such that said rock shaft 46 will be swung at the actuation of any of said keys 43 to swing rearwardly a second universal member 47 shown as in the form of an operating arm fixed on the rock shaft 46. When the platen 16 is in lower-case position, said second universal member 47 will be actuated idly, but when the platen is shifted to upper case position, an interponent 48, Figures 1 and 2, 'dependingfrbm the shift rail 40 and lying between the slidable dog-stop 3 and the second universal member 47, ill be moved or shifted to a position such as to be engaged by the member 47 and actuated at. the depression ofa special key 43, and

thereby shift said dog-stop 33, so that a stop shoulder 49, Figure 5, formed thereon, At the release of the type-key, the uni-- will be moved into engaging relation with t the loose dog 26, which, when released, as sition, and the dog-rocker 29 1s swung back,

said key.

The second universal member 47 and the universal bar member 30 are so timed that the dog-stop 33 will be shifted prior to the release of the loose dog 26 by the universal bar 30. The universal member 47 is returned toits normal position at the release. of a special type-key 43 by a spring 52 on its rock shaft. 7

tion and therewith the interponent 48 to its normal ineffective position. A spring 53 returns the dog-stop 33 to its normal position.

Va'rL tions may be resorted to Within the scope 0 the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

vHaving thus describedmy invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriter, in combination, a carriage, a set of differentiated types, a set of keys, means controlled by said keys for selectively renderin said types effective, caseshift mechanism or selectively varying the types which will be thus rendered effective, a letter-spacing mechanism comprising an adjustable element normally determinative of a single letter-spacing movement of said carriage, but shiftable to a different position determinative of a double letter-spacing movement thereof, operating means for said spacing mechanism controlled by any one of said keys tocause said mechanism to effect a single letter-spacing movement of said carriage, and shifting means for said adjustable element, comprising a normally ineffective universal operating member controlled by any one of a selected set of said keys, and a normally ineffective interponent controlled by said case-shift mechanism, whereby, on operating said case-shift mechanism concomitantly with an key of said set, the adjustable element- 0 said spacing mechanism will be shifted, through the intermediary of said universal operating member and saidinterponent, concomitantly with the operation of said spacing mechanism by its operating means, so as to effect a double to operate sa d second universal member, a

letter-spacing movement of said carriage. 2. In a typewriter, in combination, a carriage, a set of differentiated types, a set of keys, means controlled by said keys for selectively rendering said types effective, caseshift mechanism r selectively varying the types which will be thus rendered effective, a letter-spacing mechanism comprising an adjustable element normally determinative of a single letter-spacingmovement of said carriage, but shiftable to a different position determinative of a double letter-spacing movement thereof, operating means for said spacing mechanism controlled by any one of said keys to cause said mechanism to effect a single'letter-spacing movement of said carriage, and shifting means for said adjustable element, comprising a normally ineffective universal operating member controlled by any one of a selected set of said keys, and a normally ineffective interponent dependin from a movable part of said ca seshift mechanism, whereby, on operating said case-shift mechanism concomitantly with any key of said set, said interponent will first be inserted between said adjustable member and said operating member so that the adjustable element of said spacing mech anism will be shifted, through the intermediary of said universal operating member and said interponent, concomitantly with the operation of said spacing mechanism by its operating means, so as to effect a double letter-spacing movement of said carriage.

3. In a typewriting machine havin a traveling carriage, an escapement mec anism for feeding the carriage, a fixed and a loose dog for the escapement mechanism, a universal bar member for operating the escapement mechanism, type-operating keys for operating the universal bar member, and a case-shift mechanism; the combination of a second universal member universal to certain of the keys to be operated thereby and the remainder of the keys bein ineffective i to operate said second universa member, a shiftable dog-stop for variably limiting the throw of the loose dog when loose, and means controlled by the case-shift mechanism for rendering said second universal member ineffective or effective to shift said dog-stop for varying the idle throw of the loose dog thereby correspondingly to vary the feed of the carriage.

4. In a typewriting machine having a traveling carriage, an escapement mechanism for feeding the carriage, a fixed .and a loose dog for the escapement mechanism, a uni versal bar member for operating the escapement mechanism, type-operating keys for operating the universal bar member, and a case-shift mechanism; the combination of a second universal member universal to certain of the keys to be operated thereby and the remainder of the keys being ineffective shiftable dog-stop for variably'limiting the throw of the loose dog when loose, and an interponent shiftable by the case-shift mechanism for rendering the second universal member ineffective or effective to shift said dog-stop for varying the idle throw of'the loose dog to vary the feed of the carriage.

5. In a typewriting machine having a traveling carriage, an escapement mechamechanism for rendering the second universal member ineffective in the lower case and effective in the upper case to shift saiddog-stop to increase the idle throw of the loose dog so as correspondingly to increase the feed of the carriage.

6. In a typewriting machine having a traveling carriage, a dog-rocker for feeding the carriage, a fixed and a loose dog carried by the dog-rocker, a universal bar member for operating the dog-rocker, key-operated type-bars for operating the universal bar member, a case-shift mechanism, and keys for operating the type-bars; the combination of a shiftable dog-stop for variably limiting the throw ofthe loose dog when loose, a second universal member universal to certain of the keys to be operated thereby and the remainder of the keys being ineffective to operate said second universal member, and means controlled by the case-shift mechanism for rendering said second universal member ineffective in the lower case and effective in the upper case to shift said dogstop toincrease the idle throw of the loose dog thereby correspondingly to increase the feed of the carriage.

7. In a typewriting machine having a traveling carriage, an escapement mechanism for feeding the carriage, a universal bar member for operating the escapement mechanism, type-operating keys for operating the universal bar member, and a caseshift mechanism; the combination of a rock shaft universal to certain of the keys to be operated thereby and the remainder of the keys being inefiective to operate the rock shaft, a dog-stop shiftable by the rock shaft for varying the escapement, and means controlled by the case-shift mechanism for rendering the rock shaft effective or ineffective to shift said dog-stop.

8. In 7 a typewriting machine having a traveling carriage, an 'escapement mechanism for feedingthe carriage, a universalbar for operating the escapement mechanism, type-operating keys for operating the universal bar, and a case-shift mechanism; the combination of a rock shaft universal to and the remainder of the keys being inefi'ec tive to operate the rock shaft, a dog-stop shiftable by the rock shaft for varying the escapement, an operating arm carried by the rock shaft, and an interponent shiftable by the case-shift mechanism for rendering said operating arm ineffective in the lower case and effective in the upper case to shift said dog-stop.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and typeoperating keys, ofa universal bar operated by all of said keys, a case-shift mechanism, an escapement mechanism for the carriage operated by said universal bar, an escapement element forming part of said escapement mechanism, a dog-rocker including a fixed or holding dog and a loose or stepping dog also forming part of said escapement mechanism, said loose dog normally holding the carriage by said element, means whereby the universal bar causes the holding dog to hold said carriage and the loose dog to be released, means for urging said loose dog, when released to a position to enable the carriage to be fed along when said loose do" is again brought into engagement with sai element, a member universal to certain of said keys to be operated thereby and unaffected by the remainder of said keys, a shiftable stop for selectively determining whether the loose dog shall be drawn back to position to effect feeding of the carriage one or more letter-spaces, and an interponent controlled as to its operativeness by the caseshift mechanism and operated by said universal member for shifting said stop.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and char- I acter-printing keys, of a universal bar universal to all of said keys to be operated thereby, a case-shift mechanism, an escapement mechanism operated by said universal bar, certain of said keys printing characters of extra width, a member universal to said extra width character keys timed'to act before said bar, a loose dog forming part of the escapement mechanism normally holding the carriage and adapted to be drawn back on the depression of a key, a shiftable stop for variably arresting the loose dog and normally occupying one position, and means controlled by the ease-shift mechanism and operat d by said universal member for shifting said step toincrease the throw of the loose/"dog. r

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and typeoperating keys, of a case-shift mechanism, an escapement mechanism for the carriage operated by. said keys, a universal bar universal to all the keys to bezoperatedt'hereby for opera-ting the escapement mechanism, a fixed and a loose dog for the escapement mechacertain of the keys to be operated thereby nism, a fixed stop against which the loose whereby when the interponent isinl the ef-'' fective position one group of said keys operates the'interponent to shift said'shiftable stop to vary the idle throw of the loose dog, the remainder of said keys being ineffective 'to operate the interponent. Y

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and typeoperating keys, of a case-shift mechanism, a universal bar operated by all of said keys, an escapement mechanism ,for the carriage,

an interponent shiftable by the case-shift mechanism to effective or ineffective tion, a shifta'ble stop operable by the interponent for varying the throw of the escapement mechanism, and a member universal to certain only of the keys to be operated thereby for operating the interponent to vary the escapement throw, the remainder of said keys being ineffective to operate the interponent.

13.- In a typewriting machine, the combination with keys and type-bars operated thereby, of a universal bar operated by said type-bars, an escapement mechanism operated by the universal bar, a case-shift mechanism, a rock shaft universal to certain of said keys and operated thereby, the remainder of said keys being ineffective on the rock shaft, a stop shiftable by the rock shaft for varying the escapement, and an interponent shiftable 'by the case-shi-ft. mechanism for making the rock shaft effective to shift said stop.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and typeoperating keys, of a case-shift mechanism, an escapement mechanism for the carriage, a universal bar'operated by all of said keys for-operating the escapement mechanism, a loose dog forming part of said escapement mechanism anc'fnormally holding the carriage, a shiftable stop to vary the throw of the loose dog when it is loose, levers for said keys, .a universal rock shaft adjacent said key-levers, operating connections including links for connecting the universal rock shaft to certain of said key-levers, the remainder of said key-levers having no connection to the universal rock shaft, an operating arm on the universal rock shaft for shifting said stop, and means controlled by the case-shift mechanism for rendering said operatin arm ineffective or effective to shift the shiftable stop.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and typeope-rating keys, of an escapement mechanism for. the carriage, a universal bar operated by all of said keys for operating the escapement mechanism, a loose dog forming part of said escapement mechanism and normallyholding the carriage, a shiftable stop to vary the throw of the loose dog when it is loose, levers for said keys, a universal rock'sha'ft adjacent said, key-levers, operating connections between the universal rock shaft and certain of said key-levers, the remainder of said key-levers having no connection to the universal rock shaft, an peratin arm on the universal rock shaft for shi ing said stop, an interponen t between said operating arm and said stop, and a case-shift mechanism for making said interponent ineffective or effective to cause said operating arm to shift the shiftable stop. Y

16. In a typewriting machine, the combiposirock the rock shaft, the remainder of the key-levers having no connection to the rock shaft, so that the rock shaft is universal to certain only of said keys and not to the remainder, means operated by the rock shaft for varying the feed of the carriage by the escapement mechanism, and means controlled by the case-shift mechanism for rendering the rock shaft ineffective or effective to operate'said means for varying the feed of the carriage. f

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a travelin carriage and typeoperating' keys having ey-levers, of a universal rock shaft above said key-levers, operating extensions for the universal rock shaft, removable links connecting some only of said key-levers to said extensions to enable the keys thereof to operate the rock shaft, the remainder of the key-levers having no connection to the rock -shaft, an escape ment mechanism for feeding the carriage, a universal bar common to all of said keys to be operated thereby for operating the escapement mechanism, an operating arm on the rock shaft for varying the feed of the escapement mechanism, a case-shift mechanism, and an interponent shiftable by the case-shift mechanism for rendering said operating arm ineffective or effective to vary the feed of the escapement mechanism.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and type operating keys having key-levers, of a universal rock shaft above said key-levers, operating extensions for the universal rock shaft, removable links connecting some only of said key-levers to said extensions to enable the keys thereof to operate the rock shaft, the remainder of the key-levers having no connection to the rock shaft, an escapement mechanism for feeding the carriage, a universal bar common to all of said keys to be operated thereby for operating the escapement mechanism, a loose dog normally holding the carriage and forming part of the escapement mechanism, a dog-stop shiftable by the rock shaft to vary the throw .of said dog when loose, an operating arm on the rock shaft for shifting the dog-stop, an ineffective position.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combiloose dog, a rock arm on the rock shaft, a stop shiftable by said rock arm to control the 1 throw of the loose dog when loose, a caseshift mechanism, and means controlled by 15 the case-shift mechanism for rendering said rock anm ineffective or effective to shift said stop. 7

J FRANK ALLAH-D. Witnesses:

STEPHANIE OFEENTHAL, EDITH B. LIBBEY. 

